THE DISASTER ARTIST
US, 2017, 104 minutes, Colour.
Dave Franco, James Franco, Seth Rogen, Ari Graynor, Alison Brie, Jackie Weaver, Paul Scheer, Zac Efron, Josh Hutcherson, June Diane Raphael, Megan Mullaly, Jason Mantzoukas.
Directed by James Franco.
They say seeing is believing. In the case of The Disaster Artist, seeing is actually disbelieving! Who would believe that this is a true story?
It is the story of actor, writer, director, Tommy Wiseau, a man who in fact had covered himself in mystery, claiming to be from New Orleans, to be only in his 20s, with a very strange accent, an amateur film-maker. (While the end of the film says that his origins are still unknown, one has only to Google him to find that he was actually born in Poland in 1955 – and has done a little more filmmaking than The Disaster Artist might suggest.) It should be said that Wiseau collaborated in the making of this film and has a guest appearance.
The first question to ask is whether the audience has actually seen his film, The Room. It has been in circulation for 13 years or more and has become quite a cult film, screening at midnight sessions, eliciting audience response, vocal response, as it unfolds on the screen. After the success of this film and its nominations and awards, The Room might make a whole lot more money at the cult box office!
James Franco is a prolific, more than prolific, writer, actor and director, several projects every year for the last years. This time he acts and directs, immersing himself in the bizarre appearance, gaunt and sallow face, long black hair, that odd accent, of Tommy Wiseau. He casts his younger brother, Dave, as Greg Sestero, the star of the film, caught up in an odd friendship with Wiseau, some mutual dependency, later author of a book about his experience in making The Room.
Dave Franco, in all his films, has an immediate smiling face and so is well cast as the rather naive, exuberantly enthusiastic, ultimately partly disillusioned Sestero. Greg and Tommy are both in acting school and Tommy takes a shine to Greg, especially in a football scene where Tommy is hopeless at kicking and passing the ball. However, off they go to Hollywood to fulfil ambitions. Not easy until Tommy gets the bright idea that he should make his own film.
Most of the film is about the making of the film, scheduled for 40 days but going well beyond 50. Tommy hasn’t much of a clue about equipment but buys some, not too much of a grasp of what the technical crew actually does and employs a range of actors, generally on some kind of whim or intuition. He writes his screenplay of The Room and off they go. The making of the film is very funny for the audience but, generally, we are laughing at Tommy, something which happens at the premiere of the finished film.
There is a very interesting supporting cast led by Seth Rogen as the film editor who has to take over some of the role of director, especially when Tommy acts (67 takes in his first sequence where he continues to forget the lines), Zac Efron and Josh Hutcherson as his friends, Ari Graynor as Lisa, the girlfriend, and, an interesting choice, Jacki Weaver as the mother.
James Franco does a very good job communicating the eccentricities, the moods, the self-centredness, the vindictiveness (even against Greg moving out of the apartment with his girlfriend), and the unflappable self-confidence in thinking that he is making the greatest film on earth.
The premiere sequence is a highlight but audiences will very much enjoy the device of having sequences with the actors in this film in split screen along with the original sequences. In these, Wiseau has to be seen to be believed/disbelieved, a far worse a performer than Franco trying to mimic his badness.
Quite a different film about film-making – but, Tommy Wiseau, who does appear in this film, is still around and involved in film-making.
1. An interesting film? Enjoyable? Based on a true story and characters?
2. Audience knowledge of Tommy Wiseau, of The Room? The reception of the film, the ridicule, it is having cult status? Making its money despite its reputation?
3. James Franco as director and actor? His career, prolific, performance skills, impersonating Tommy Wiseau? And the audience having the opportunity to compare the two in the parallel sequences?
4. The strong cast, Dave Franco as Greg Sestero, his experience, the aftermath, writing the book?
5. Tommy Wiseau, his appearance The other actors, the guest roles, cameos?
6. The introduction to the film, the range of Hollywood guests, Kevin Smith, Adam Scott and the variety of guests tantalising the audience to watch?
7. Tommy Wiseau, his actual appearance in the film? The effect of the parallel sequences at the end? The post-credits conversation?
8. Acting school, Waiting for Godot, the teacher, Greg’s poor performance? Talking with Tommy, at the diner, Tommy giving Greg the opportunity to act, the text, getting louder, standing up, the diner’s response? In the park, the football, Tommy and his lack of coordination in kicking and passing?
9. James Franco as Tommy Wiseau, the comparisons with the actual man? His age, background, accent, questioning about origins, the puzzle about his money and income? His ambitions, his eccentricities, his mental condition?
10. Tommy and Greg going to LA, the drive, glimpsing Los Angeles, their hopes, the apartment? The difficulties in getting jobs? Tommy and his decision to write a screenplay, Greg reading it, affirming it?
11. Tommy and his ignorance about filmmaking, the cameras and equipment, going to the shop, getting the information? The shopkeepers and their financial support? Assembling the group? Sandy as the editor and his experience? The range of the cast, the interviews, the whims? The technical staff, design, wardrobe, Tommy’s interactions with them throughout the film? Hiring and firing?
12. The schedule for 40 days, the 40 days and plus? His being prepared, not prepared? His manner as a director? The discussions about Hitchcock, The Bird, Hitchcock being hard on his actors, Tommy imitating him?
13. His own acting, poor performance, nerves, the 67 takes, losing his lines? The sequence, the nudity, the close-up of his bottom? The ham performance? The reaction of the cast watching? Greg trying to help?
14. Greg, his acting, an opportunity? Supporting Tommy? The meeting with Amber, the relationship? His acting performances, growing the beard, getting experience? The meeting with Bryan Cranston, Malcolm in the Middle? The invitation to do a role? Tommy forbidding it, his jealousy, the effect, the aftermath?
15. The range of the cast, Lisa and her reaction to Tommy? The sex sequence? Jacki Zac Efron, Josh Hutcherson? Their scenes? Playing together? The scene with them on the roof, tuxedos, the ball and the character falling? Their presence at the premiere and their reactions?
16. Sandy as director, his growing exasperation, the 67 takes, Tommy and his whims? The issue of the heat, Tommy not providing any water, wanting his cast to buy water? No air-conditioning, saving money for the budget?
17. The prolonged schedule, eventually finishing? Greg and his break with Tommy? Tommy coming back with the football?
18. The invitation to the premiere, Greg deciding not to go, Tommy pleading with him, the limousine, Tommy making the guests wait?
19. The theatre, the crowd, the cast all present, anticipation? Tommy and his nerves? Greg being reassuring? The screening, the audience puzzled, the tutors, the giggles, then the full laughter? Tommy, Greg persuading him to return? The applause? Tommy’s reaction?
20. The reputation of the film? And the effect of seeing the actual sequences paralleling those of the performance in this film? An enticement for people to want to see The Room?
21. The post-credits sequence, in the conversation, Tommy Wiseau and James Franco?
